Would like option to disable Bluetooth at night

[designbod]

Hi,

How can I submit a request to be considered for the Sense's future software upgrades?

I would very much like the option to turn off the Bluetooth on my Sense, particularly at night (like the 'Airplane Mode' you get on ipads etc).  I wear the device 24/7 and it's constantly emitting EMF by polling the Bluetooth constantly. It may only be a small amount, but coupled with all the other EMF we're bombarded with in our everyday, I'd like the option to turn off what I can.

My husband also has a very serious condition and isn't happy about me wearing my Sense in bed so that's causing some issues.I also sleep on my side with my arm under my pillow so it's right by my head every night.

I don't need it polling to Bluetooth at night and presume it should still be able to collect my Sleep stats from my heart-rate, skin temp, movement etc without the need for Bluetooth to be enabled (correct me if I'm wrong here). 

At this rate I'm going to have to stop wearing it at night which will be a shame as I love my Sleep stats and is the main reason I pay for Premium to get the more detailed Sleep Stats. 

Please Fitbit - hear my pleading!

[Guy_]

Hi @designbod  - already the Bluetooth signals are very weak , not continuous and the issue has been raised before if you look in the feature suggestions.

However you can set a Sleep schedule in the watch settings and this quiesces the watch and stops notifications and wake ups by wrist movement and dims the display so you should both have a peaceful night. If you want to see the time just push the button.

[Rich_Laue]

That is what the feature suggestion board is for. Add your vote and comment here

Bluetooth / Radio toggle (disable)

[designbod]

Thanks Rich. It seems we’re getting nowhere fast with this request as I also raised it a year ago and a couple of years before that and plenty of others have done so but we just get cookie cutter ‘polite’ brush-off replies that don’t provide an answer to why this can’t be a simple toggle button, like the Sleep mode button.  I’m beginning to despair of Fitbit. I have literally been with them since Day One when I had the One but I feel I have come to the end of the road with them now. 

[designbod]

Thanks Guy but to be honest, I do t care if they’re weak or not (and I’ve seen no data to show me they’re weak or how that compares to other devices). I just want to be able to turn it off. There’s no good reason for it to be emitting constantly. I don’t have the Bluetooth on my phone or iPad on continuously and do manual syncs. Hence, I don’t need my Fitbit constantly trying to pair with a device 24/7. It’s just not healthy and the sooner we all begin to get that the better.

[PaulMe]

There’s no good reason for it to be emitting constantly.

I guess there isn't, but unless you're "Chuck" from "Better Call Saul" and suffer from "Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity" (LOL!) and unproven by science, there really is nothing to worry about. All the EMF and other electrical radiation from Radio, TV, communications and the miriad of other emitting sources is millions of times stronger. 

I'd pick other things to concern myself with, to be honest.

But each to their own I guess.

😁

If the suggestion as posted in the feature link above has been there since 8th August 2018. Then it simply is never going to happen.

[Guy_]

@designbod  - you can check a few things to verify. 

Turn on the developer bridge in your watch Settings, this turns on a wifi connection you will notice the battery level will deplete quite rapidly.

What this means is that the WiFi signals are far stronger than Bluetooth and your router(s) and nearby ones are transmitting a far stronger signal, this is because they also travel a longer distance.

You can also measure how close you have to be to the phone for syncing to work, it needs to be within about 30 feet which means the signal is very weak. It has to be otherwise the tiny battery would deplete too quickly.

Also the Bluetooth is not transmitting all the time because that would exhaust the battery too, it is listening for a signal and while in sleep mode it has no need to transmit or listen permanently.

It may occasionally send a signal but this is nothing as @PaulMe says compared to all the other transmissions from phone transmitters, TV etc. Even the sun (though not so much at night lol)

Of course it would seem logical to have the option to turn off Bluetooth transmission but as it is mainly listening except when syncing there isn't much point.

The additional syncing issues and support requests that would arise from people forgetting to turn it on makes it not worth adding this feature, so it is unlikely to happen.

[chuacw]

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@Guy_ wrote:

Turn on the developer bridge in your watch Settings, this turns on a wifi connection you will notice the battery level will deplete quite rapidly.

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How do you turn on the developer bridge?

[Guy_]

@chuacw  - swipe the watch face to the left, tap on settings, select the developer bridge option and turn it on.

Don't forget to turn it off or you use battery for nothing. It will go off after a time but obviously that is quite long.

[chuacw]

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@Guy_ wrote:

swipe the watch face to the left, tap on settings, select the developer bridge option and turn it on.

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I'm not seeing this in settings. There's no developer bridge option.

Under what conditions can I see the developer bridge?

[Guy_]

@chuacw  - this should be the option immediately above Shutdown at the bottom of the watch Settings if you have a Sense watch?

If it's an older watch it will be 2 options above  About at the bottom.

If you are not a developer it is nothing to worry about as you won't ever need it and shouldn't use it.

[kshred]

Replying to @Guy_  A weak signal running next to your head for eight hours every night of your life is still a big concern.  I bought my watch specifically for the smart alarm as it's the only thing that's ever consistantly woke me up in the morning but I'm afraid to use it for the same reason as @designbod .  When this watch stops working in a year (as all previous fitbits have done) I'm gonna buy a Garmin as they have the ability to turn off the bluetooth.

[Guy_]

Hi @kshred  - you concern is understandable but note, if you turn off your phone or it's Bluetooth, there is no sustainable transmission possible

Also check Garmin because not all watches have the ability to turn off the Bluetooth.

[kshred]

Good point about the garmin.  It is something I will always check on from now on.  It was not something I knew to be concerned about until I read the manual that came with my fitbit and it says not to wear it next to your head.  I'll turn off the phone bluetooth to mitigate.   

Does anyone know if turning off the bluetooth on the phone will cause the watch to look for it's mate more frequently? Or is it the syncing of the data that causes the most emissions.

Would be nice to sleep without that tiny concern in the back of the head all night.

[upmcedtal]

How do I tracks my blood pressure on my sense fitbit watch. Sent from my Galaxy

[Guy_]

@kshred - not to worry you, here's an article Do I Need to Worry About Radiation From WiFi and Bluetooth Devices?

When you consider the stronger rays from the sun, WiFi, Routers, Cellular signals from nearby transmitters, TV & Radio signals, Satellite signals, TV screens and Mobile phones all floating about, Bluetooth isn't that significant, especially in a non transmission state.

Because Bluetooth is very low power it probably isn't that harmful either, more a worry than an actual effect. And controlling the weakest signal will not have much effect when compared to all the others combined.

A phone probably is more of an issue and even then any effect is not proven.

The weak laser sensors on a watch probably have more effect than Bluetooth and even then may not be detectable over years.

[Guy_]

Hi @upmcedtal - no Fitbit devices measure blood pressure.